Litigation

Litigation can threaten one's livelihood, or a business’ ability to be successful, or even exist.  But, litigation may also be necessary to protect those things and other rights and interests. Norfolk Beier has experience in representing individuals and businesses in high risk litigation. Attorney Matthew Norfolk is recognized for his aggressive, but well-planned and thoughtful, approach to prosecuting and defending against claims.  His passion to be successful in the courtroom is an important attribute he offers his clients faced with a controversy.

Norfolk Beier is regularly engaged by plaintiffs to protect their real property rights and other interests, and to recover an array of economic and non-economic losses from defendants who have intentionally or carelessly committed a wrongdoing or breached an agreement. We also represent defendants confronted with lawsuits or faced with enforcement proceedings commenced by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation or New York State Adirondack Park Agency. 

PROBATE MATTERS

Norfolk Beier counsels clients on a broad range of probate matters from administering estates and trusts to advising individuals, banks and trust companies regarding their duties as fiduciaries.  We also work with clients to resolve disputes concerning the validity or operation of wills and trust agreements or when administrative decisions of a fiduciary are challenged in an accounting proceeding.  We also negotiate and draft pre- and post-nuptial agreements.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Norfolk Berier has the experience and insight to protect its clients from environmental liabilities in real estate acquisitions as well as regulatory enforcement proceedings and litigation.  The firm provides clients support and advice on environmental issues that arise in real estate transactions and business operations, and zealously represents clients when they become a target in an enforcement proceeding. Closely working with the client, we formulate a strategic plan to minimize risk and achieve the client’s objective.

real estate TRANSACTIONS 

Norfolk Beier represents buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of homes.  Our real estate practice also includes the representation of businesses and commercial developers in the acquisition of real property. We keep our clients well-informed to ensure the transaction moves smoothly towards the closing and is a pleasant experience. Attorney Norfolk is an owner and member of Whiteface Title Agency, LLC and can offer title insurance to indemnify buyers whose future ownership interests or the marketability of title to the property they are purchasing may be adversely affected by a defect in the chain of title or another’s claim of possessing an interest in the real property.

Land Use & Zoning

Land use and development are becoming more complex and it can be difficult for landowners and developers to navigate through the rules and regulations to achieve timely approval of their project. Without the necessary governmental approvals, the project ultimately will fail and the owner or developer may even face civil or criminal liability or both if it continues with the project or permits an unlawful condition to remain on the property.  Norfolk Beier guides its clients through the processes necessary to obtain zoning and building approvals in a timely fashion; with the client’s time concerns and financial resources always in mind.

SMALL BUSINESS PLANNING

Norfolk Beier understands that many of our clients created and built businesses for the next generation to own and manage.  We regularly counsel clients on providing continuity of management across generations, transferring stock to younger generations, drafting shareholder's agreements to define family obligations, and retaining a company's private status.  We also draft and negotiate various types of contracts for the operation of the business.

ESTATE PLANNING/INDIVIDUAL TAX MATTERS

We deal with complex issues for individuals and families regarding their business assets, personal assets and philanthropic endeavors.  We regularly advise clients regarding the disposition of their assets and strive to design an individualized estate plan that meets the particular needs of each client.  We assist families that have persons with disabilities, addressing their unique tax and financial planning needs.  We counsel clients on the use of trusts and other types of entities to protect family assets.  

CHARITABLE GIVING

Many of our clients want to give back and we work with them to establish and administer private foundations, structure charitable trusts and structure charitable gifts in a tax-efficient manner.  We regularly counsel charitable organizations that are beneficiaries of wills and trusts.

CONTraCT LAW

Norfolk Beier can provide you with legal counseling in connection with many types of contracts. Attorney Matthew Norfolk has international experience in drafting and negotiating an array of different contracts.  For example, he has negotiated and drafted major commercial engineering, procurement and construction agreements, global manufacturing agreements, architectural service agreements, residential and commercial construction agreements, real property acquisition agreements, asset purchase agreements, and fire tower refurbishing agreements.  Attorney Norfolk and his staff at Norfolk Beier carefully listen to the client to structure and negotiate an agreement that meets the client’s needs, with an eye towards optimizing the benefit of the deal while minimizing risk.